Spear



Sept 22, 1931. 3, BLACK 1,824,190

SPEAK Filed March 5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 22, 1931 PATDENT OFFICE MILLARD S. BLACK, OF HUNTINGTON PARK, CALIFORNIA srm Application meq March a, 1930. Serial 1T0. 4m.

. Z c This invention has to do with a well tool and relates more particularly to a tool for engaging or gripping casing or other tubular parts located in a well. It is a general object of the invention to provide a simple, practical, and eifective tool for gripping casing with a well.

An object of the invention is to provide a device that is adapted to be lowered into a well on an operating string and which is releasable by rotation to grip the interior of a casing, or the like, so that the. casing can be withdrawn from the well. I

Another object of the invention is to pro- 1 vide a tool or spear of the character mentioned that is of extremely simple construction and embodies only aiew sturdy dependable parts.

It is another object of the invention to provide a tool of the character mentioned that embodies gripping parts in the form of slips and that embodies novel and effective means for retaining the slips 0n the body of the tool so that they may be operatedbetween retracted and expanded positions.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a well. tool of the character mentioned in which the body is a simple unitary v part and in which thelother parts of the tool are carried by the body in a simple and eifective manner.'

A further object of the invention is to provide animproved 'eifective control means for the gripping members or slips of a spear.

Other'objects and features of the invention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed description 0 a typical form and application of the invention, throughout which description reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating the tool providedby this invention arranged within a.

casing in the retracted or unactuated position. Fig. 2 is an'enlarged vertical detailed sectional view taken as indicated byline 22 on Fig. 1 showing the parts in 'the unactuated position. Fig. 3 is a view. similar to Fig. 2 showing the parts in the operated position. Fig. 4 isa transverse detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 2. Fig.5 is a detailed transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 5- -5 on Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a transverse detailed sectional view taken as indicated by 65 line 6-6 on Fig. 3. I The tool providedcbythis invention includes,=generally, a body 10 adapted to be carried at the lower end of an operating string S, casing-engaging or gripping means 11 on the body, and means 12 for operating the gripping'means 11 or for controlling the operation of the gripping means 11.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have illustracted the tool provided by this invention attached to the lower end of an operat' string S, such as a string of drill pipe, an have shown the tool extending into a tubular part or casing C. The body 10 is in the form of an elongated unitary part which 7 0' carries the various other parts of the device. I have shown a screw-threaded pin 13 at the upper end of the body ,10 to facilitate the attachment of the body to the operating string S. The body is preferably of round cross 7 sectional configuration and is provided with a fluid passage 14 extending longitudinally through it from one end to the other. The central or middle portion 15 of the body 10 is shaped and proportioned to actuate or 30 expand the means 11- as will be hereinafter r described. The lower portion 16 of the body carries the control means 5nd may be a plain cylindrical or tubularp rt. The gripping means 11 is in the form of Q slip means andincludes a plurality of slips f 17 arranged on the middle portion 15 of t body. The slips 17 are arranged axially or longitudinally of the body and are operable from a collapsed or retractedposition where they are free of the casing, .te an actuated or expanded position where the are adapted to grip the casing G. The mid 0 portion. 15 ofthe body is formed so that the slips-17 are moved radially outward upon upward movement of the body relative to;the The 'middle portion 15 of the body is provided with aplurality or loi 'tudmal'series of downwardly and outwar y inclined'wedge faces 18. The faces 18 are in adjoining reurged or forced outwardly into e ective grlpping engagement with the casing C. The outer sides of the slips 17 are serrated or provided with gripping parts 23 to grip the interior of a tubular part such as the casin C. There may be any desired number 0% slips 17 provided on the body and ,the slips may be spaced apart or arranged im- -mediately adjacent one another asv shown in the-drawings. The upper ends of the slips 17 engage 'or abut. a downwardly-facing I shoulder 20 on the body 10 when they are in the retracted position shown in Fig. 2.-

The slips 17 are retained in assembled position on the body 10 by a plurality of rings 2l-embedded or arranged in, annular recesses 22 in the exteriors of the slips. The rings 21 are provided at longitudinally spaced points on the slips 17 and extend completely around the several slips. cordance with the invention, the rings 21 are integral or continuous and therefore positively hold the slips on the body; In'the manufacture of the tool the rings 21 may be split transversely and arranged over the sli siassembled on the bod whereupon the on s of the rings 21 may e jointed or see cured together as by weldin or other suitable means. The rin 21 t freely in the recesses 22 there being suflicient clearance between the inner sides of the rings and the bottoms of the recesses 22 when the slips are retracted to ermit the slips to be operated to the expan ed positions. It is to be noted, however, that the rings and slips are related so that the slips cannot become displaced from the body.

The means 12 for controllin tion or expansion of the slips 1 includes a sleeve 24 slidably and rotatably mounted on the lower portion 16 of the body and cooperating with the sli s, springs 25 on the sleeve 24 for frictional y engaging the walls of the casing C to resist movement of the sleeve in the casing, and releasable means normally holdin the sleeve in position where the sli s 1 are held out of operation and operable y rotation to release the sleeve so that the sli s are allowed to operate. The sleeve 24 is slidably and rotatably mounted on the lower portion 16 of the body immediately below the slips 17. "The upper end of the sleeve 24 engages the lower ends of the slips 17. The lower end of the sleeve 24 is spaced some distance from the lower In ac the opera- 1,sa4,19o

end of the body 10. The assembly of the sleeve 24 and the springs 25 is in the nature of a tail piece, the springs 25 being provided to engage the lnterior of a tubular part to resistmovement of the sleeve in a casing. 'There may be a plurality of circumferentially spaced springs 25 arranged longitudinally of the sleeve 24. The ends of the springs 25 may be suitable secured in recesses 27 in the sleeve 24 while the middle ortions of the springs 25 are outwardly ulged to effectively engage the interior of the casing C.

relative to the sleeve 24 to release the body for. upward movement. This means includes a depending or downwardly projecting finger 28 on the lower end of the sleeve 24 and an enlargement or head 29 on the lower end of the body 10. The head 29 may be screw threaded on the lower end of the body 10 and may-be retained in its proper position by a retaining pin 30. The lower end of the head 29 and the extreme lower end of the body 10 may be rounded as shown throughout the drawings to effectively guide the tool into a tubular part such as a casing C. The upperendof the head 29 is provided with an u wardly-projecting stop and a downwar l'y-inclined face 32 extending downwardly and circumferentially froni the base of the stop 31. The finger 28 normally seats against one side of the stop 31 where its lower end engages the face 32 and where it is held against rotation in one direction by the stop 31. The face 32 is provided with a flat portion 33 at the base of the sto 31 to normally receive the lower end 0 the finger 28. The part 33 of the face 32 and the lower end of the finger 28 cooperate to hold the body 10 against unintentional or accidental rotation relative to the sleeve 24. The lower end 36 of the sleeve 24 may be inclined so that it extends upwardly and circumferentially from one side of the finger 28 to receive or fit the face 32 of the head 29 when the tool has been operated.

In operation the tool is run into a well on the lower end of a drilling'string or operating string S with the parts positioned as shown in Fig. 1. The rounded lower end of the head 29 is effective in guiding the tool into and through the casing C. When the tool is in operating position within the casing C, the drillin string S is rotated while an upward pull 1s exerted on it so that the body. 10 and the head 29 are rotated in the proper direction to cause the face 32 of the head to ride over the lower end of the finger 28. The springs 25 operate to hold the sleeve 24 against rotative movement'durof the drawings.

ing this rotation of the body 10 and also prevent the sleeve 24 from being operated upwardly while the upward pull is being exerted on the drilling string. Upon upward movement of the body 10 relative to the sleeve 24' and the sli s 17, the wedge faces 18 force the slips 1% outwardly into gripping engagement with the interior of the casing. The wedge faces 18 being annular, permit a certain amount of rotative movement of the body and the drilling string without loosening the grip of the slips on the casing. If it is desired to release the slips 17 from gripping engagement with the casing C, a downward force may be applied to the body and the body rotated in a direction opposite to that required for the operation above described, so that the face 32 of the head 29 will again ride over the lower end of the finger 28.to bring the head to the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 Upon the body being moved downward, the wedge faces 18 are shifted so that the slips 17 are free to shift to the unactuated posltions.

Having described only a typical preferred form of my application, I do not Wish to limit myself to the specific details set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall with n the scone of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A spear of the character described including, a body, a wedge face on the body, a slip on the body operable to an expanded position by the wedge face upon longitudinal movement of the body relative to the slip,.and means for-releasably holding the bodyagainst longitudinal movement relative to the slip and operable by rotation to release the body for movement including, a

sleeve slidablyon the body, a head on the body below the sleeve and having an inclined face, and a part on the sleeve normally at the upper end of the face of the head and opera e downwardly over the inclined face to allow relative movement between the body and slip.

2. A tool of the character described including, a body, an inclined face on thebody, a slip operable through engagement with the face to an expanded position upon relative longitudinal movement between the body and the slip, means retaining the slip on the body, and means controlling the relative movement between the body and the slip including a'sleeve slidable and rotatable on the body and engaging the slip, means on the sleeve for frictionally engaging an object, a member on the body below the sleeve having an inclined face, and a part on the sleeve normally engaging the member at the upper end of its inclined face to hold the body against relative longitudinal movement and operable downwardly over the face upon rotation of the body to permit longitudinal movement of the body relative to the slip.

3. A tool of the character described including, a body, an inclined face on the body, a slip operable through engagement with the face to an expanded position upon relative longitudinal movement between the body and the slip, means retaining the slip on the body, and means controlling the relative movement between the body and the slip including a sleeve slidable and rotatable on the body and engaging the slip, means on the sleeve for frictionally engaging a tubular object, a member on the body having an inclined face and a stop at the upper end of the face, and a part on the sleeve normally at the upper end of the face in engagement with the stop and holding the body against movement relative to the slip and operable upon rotation of the body to o erate downwardly over the said face on t e member to permit relative longitudinal movement between the body and the slip.

4. A tool of the character described including, a bgdy, an inclined face on the bular object, a member on the body having an inclined face, a part on the sleeve normally at the upper end of the face and holding the body and slip against relative longitudinal movement and operable upon relative rotation between the body and sleeve in one direction to operate downwardly over said face on the member to permit relative longitudinal movement between the body and slip to cause operation of the slip, and means preventing relative rotation between the body and sleeve in the other direction.

5. A tool of the character described including, a body, an inclined iiice on the body, a slip operable through engagement with the face to an expanded position upon relative longitudinal movement between the body and the slip, means retaining the slip on the body, and means controlling the relative movement between the body. and the slip including asleeve slidable and rotatable on the body and engaging the slip, means on the sleeve for frictionally engaging a tu- -the member and holding the body and slip against relative longitudinal movement and operable upon relative rotation between the body and sleeve in one direction to operate downwardly over said face on the' member to permit relative longitudinal movement 5 between the body and slip, and a stop at the upper end of the face on the member engageable by. the part to prevent rotation between the body and sleeve in the other direction.

m 6. A well tool of the character described including, a body having a wedge face, a slip operable through engagement with the face to an expanded position upon relative longitudinal movement between the body and slip, and control means including a head on the body having an inclined face,a sleeve slidable and rotatable on the body and engaging the slip, a finger on the sleeve normally engaging the headat the upper end of the inclined face'to hold the body and sleeve against relative longitudinal movement and operable upon rotation of the body relative to the sleeve to pass downwardly over the inclined face, and means for resisting movement of the finger onto the inclined face including-a flat face at the upper end of the inclined face for receiving the end of theffinger.

7 A well tool of the character described including, a body having a wedge face, a.

slip operable through engagement with the face to an expanded position upon relative longitudinal movement between the body and slip, and control means ineludinga head on the body having an inclined face, a sleeve slidable and rotatable on the bed and engaging the slip, a finger on the s eeve normally engagin the head. at the upper end ofthe inclined face to hold the body and sleeve against relative longitudinal movement and operablealpon rotation of the body relative to the sleeve in one direction to pass I downwardly over the inclined face, and a sto on the head at the upper end of the -ine ined face engagable by the, finger to revent rotation between the body and sleeve in the other direction.

In witness that.Iv claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st 'day of February, 1930.

. MILLARD S. BLACK. 

